Gertrude Sprague Carraway : together with proceedings of a banquet on the occasion of the presentation of the North Caroliniana Society award for 1982

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THE LIBRARY OF THE
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NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHAPEL HILL

THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA
PRESENTED BY

North Caroliniana Society

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FOR USE ONLY IN
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http://archive.org/details/gertrudespraguecO/7raga

Gertrude
Sprague

Carraway

by Sam Ragan

ne

NORTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY IMPRINTS
NUMBER 7

a

This edition is limited to
five hundred copies
of which this is number

439

NORTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY IMPRINTS
H. G. Jones, Editor

No. 1. An Evening at Monticello: An Essay in Reflection (1978)
by Edwin M. Gill

No. 2. The Paul Green I Know (1978)
by Elizabeth Lay Green

No. 3. The Albert Coates I Know (1979)
by Gladys Hall Coates

No. 4. The Sam Ervin I Know (1980)
by Jean Conyers Ervin

No. 5. Sam Ragan (1981)
by Neil Morgan

No. 6. Thomas Wolfe of North Carolina (1982)
edited by H. G. Jones

No. 7. Gertrude Sprague Carraway (1982)
by Sam Ragan

Gertrude
Sprague

Carraway

CR)

by Sam Ragan

Together with Proceedings of a Banquet on the Occasion of the Presentation
of the North Caroliniana Society Award for 1982

Chapel Hill
NORTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY, INC.
1982

Copyright © 1982 by
North Caroliniana Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 127
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-0127
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America

The North Caroliniana Society

honors

Gertrude Sprague Carraway

Carolina Inn
Friday, May 7, 1982

Master of Ceremonies
Dr. H.G. Jones, Secretary of the Society

Introduction of Head Table

Dinner

Tributes to Gertrude Carraway
For Community Service—Robert L. Stallings, Jr
For State Service—Former Governor Robert W. Scott
For National Service—Mrs. Richard Denny Shelby

“*Gertrude”’
by
Sam Ragan

Presentation of the North Caroliniana Society Award
by
Archie K. Davis, President of the Society

Acceptance
by
Gertrude S$. Carraway

The North Caroltniana Society,

in recognition of her public service and

of her promotion, enhancement, production. and
preservation of the literature of her native state.
presents its

North Caroliniana Society Award

to

GERTRUDE SPRAGUE CARRAWAY
May 7.1982

Qakiz. K. Kavi Gfopr-

Archie K. Davis HG. Jones
President decretary-Treasurer

WITNESSES FOR GERTRUDE: Pictured are four of the speakers who gave
tributes during the “Evening with Gertrude Carraway” on May 7. Left to right,

top to bottom, are Robert L. Stallings, Jr. (on her community service); former Gov-
enor Robert W. Scott (on her state service); Mrs. Patricia W. Shelby (on her na-

tional service); and William S. Powell (who presented the award).

ic saadlasienceinsanmetainnccsapiveinitaime

GREETING OLD FRIENDS: At top, Miss Carraway, with Mrs. Shelby,
welcomes R. M. Lineberger of Morganton, with whom she served on the North
Carolina Historical Commission; at bottom, the honoree and Sam Ragan, the
main speaker, chat with Theresa S. Shipp, register of deeds of Craven County.
(All photos by Jerry W. Cotten.)

AN EVENING WITH GERTRUDE CARRAWAY

On the evening of May 7, 1982, nearly 300 friends and relatives attended a
reception and banquet in the Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, honoring Gertrude
Sprague Carraway on the occasion of her acceptance of the North Caroliniana So-
ciety Award for 1982. The master of ceremonies was Dr. H. G. Jones, curator of
the North Carolina Collection and secretary-treasurer of the North Caroliniana So-
ciety; and brief tributes were given by Robert L. Stallings, Jr, Robert W. Scott, Pa-
tricia W. Shelby, and William S. Powell. Their remarks, along with the address of
the main speaker, Sam Ragan, and the receipient’s response, are published in this
the seventh number in the North Caroliniana Society Imprints series.

CL)

CR]

H. G. JONES, Master of Ceremonies:

Welcome to the first joint meeting of the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution and New Bernians in Exile. I am
told that in this room may be the largest number of officers and former of-
ficers of the DAR ever to assemble outside Washington and Valley Forge,
and perhaps not since British troops marched on New Bern 201 years ago
have so many citizens made the long trip from the Trent River to Orange
County—then for Hillsborough, tonight for Chapel Hill.

To all, and especially to those who have traveled from distant states
such as Florida, Arkansas, Texas, California, and Massachusetts, welcome
to this party for a great lady.

Because our audience is so diverse, I must explain just a bit about
these annual North Caroliniana Society Awards banquets. First of all, the
North Caroliniana Society is not just a garden-variety organization; it is
different, and each of its banquets is different. Our tributes are not with-
out their mischievousness. However, those who have witnessed our treat-
ment of our previous recipients—Paul Green, Albert Coates, Sam Ervin,
and Sam Ragan, each performance reaching a new low—may be glad to
know that the directors have instructed that our ceremonies this year be
more dignified, not only because Gertrude Carraway stands a cut above
our other honorees but also because our audience needs to be spared cer-
tain ordeals. We will forego, for instance, our habit of asking our honoree
to demonstrate one of the skills for which he or she won distinction long
ago. To be honest, neither dignity nor space would permit Gertrude to-
night to put on a performance of her athletic ability as a star on the State
Normal School’s hockey team in 1912-1915 or her prowess as a basketball
coach at Jacksonville shortly afterward. However, she will be welcome to
demonstrate her skill as a debater should she choose to challenge the con-
stitutionality of the directors’ selection of her as recipient of this year’s
North Caroliniana Society Award—a selection made without permitting
her to attend the meeting of the board of which she is a member.

We do some other things differently. For instance, we put the im-
portant people in the audience, and we put at the head table those who

[1]

couldn’t find any friends to sit with. I shall ask you to withhold your ap-
plause until I have introduced the entire head table, and I ask each person
to remain standing until the entire row has been presented, including our
honoree.

From my far left:

Margaret Stallings, who gave up the beautiful city of Charleston,
South Carolina, for the equally beautiful city of New Bern, North Caro-
lina;

William S. Powell, the first president and now the vice-president of
the North Caroliniana Society;

Mary Gatton, a familiar face in our State Legislative Building;

Robert L. Stallings, Jr., spokesman for thousands of Gertrude’s
neighbors;

The former first lady of North Carolina, Jessie Rae Scott.

From my far right:

Harry Gatton, former chairman and now vice-chairman of the North
Carolina Historical Commission on which Gertrude has served for 40
years;

Virginia Powell, one of the few people with the energy to keep up
with her husband Bill;

Robert W. Scott, former governor of North Carolina;

Mrs. Richard Denny Shelby, president general of the National So-
ciety of the Daughters of the American Revolution;

Sam Ragan, editor, author, and now our Poet Laureate;

—and now will you join me in welcoming these platform guests,
but most of all, our honoree, Gertrude Carraway.

At this point I wish to read a message from Sara W. Hodgkins, the
Secretary of Cultural Resources:

I regret that I cannot be with you this evening, but I want to
take this chance to offer my sincere congratulations upon your choice
of Gertrude Carraway as the recipient of the North Caroliniana Soci-
ety’s Award this year.

You simply could not have chosen better! Those of us who deal
with North Carolina’s cultural life every day have understood for years
how much we owe to that strong, scholarly citizen from New Bern.
Gertrude Carraway has been from the beginning a guiding force in the
development of Tryon Palace. She has devoted years to the Colonial
Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and many other

[2]

organizations dedicated to history and the arts. And she holds a partic-
ularly important record related to the work of the Department of Cul-
tural Resources—forty years of continuous, excellent service on the
North Carolina Historical Commission.

I want to thank you for your decision to honor Gertrude Carra-
way, and I join all of you in thanking her for extraordinary service to
her native state.

Please visit with your tablemates and proceed with your dinner. We
shall return during dessert.
[Dinner followed.]

CR)

I must share with you a characteristic bit of modesty on the part of
our honoree. When we finally persuaded Gertrude Carraway to allow us
the pleasure of sharing an evening with her, she explained that many of
her friends were up in age and might not be able to travel to Chapel Hill.
‘*Tt’ll be such a small dinner compared to the other four,’’ she protested. I
explained that the size of the crowd had no relationship to the selection of
the recipient of the North Caroliniana Society Award. A small dinner?
Look around you—nearly 300 friends of Gertrude Carraway! And on one
of the busiest weekends of the entire year, with competing activities on all
sides.

Despite the number of distinguished visitors in the audience, there
are but three persons that we will recognize individually. Would these per-
sons stand—Rose B. Carraway, Gertrude’s sister; Colonel Joseph B. Car-
raway, her nephew; and Miss Caroline Carraway, her grand-niece.

But there are two groups that we’d like to welcome collectively:
Would all of the present and past officers of both the national and state so-
ciety of the Daughters of the American Revolution stand; and finally,
would every resident or former resident of New Bern please stand.

Gertrude, I understand you have received messages from many
friends who were unable to be with us tonight, and so did we. I cannot
mention them all, but I do want to acknowledge four persons who sent
with their regrets generous contributions to the Society in your honor:

[3]

Senator and Mrs. Sam Ervin, Jr., and Mrs. A.B. Stoney of Morganton,
and Mrs. Sarah Crosby Reeves of Sanford. And here is a message from
your mayor of New Bern, Paul M. Cox:

I deeply regret being unable to attend the award ceremony for
Miss Gertrude Carraway on the occasion of her acceptance of the
North Caroliniana Society Award.

I am sure previous winners of this award have been most deserv-
ing of it, but I doubt they were more deserving than she.

We in New Bern are proud of all of her accomplishments. She
has been in the forefront of putting New Bern ‘‘on the map’’ in the
fields of history, literature, culture, and plain old ‘‘town pride.’’ I will
not recite the many honors received by her, as I am certain they will be
named at the dinner.

I think it is safe to say that without her zeal, ambition, commu-
nity spirit, and hard work, New Bern, and indeed the State of North
Carolina, would not hold the positions they do in the realms of litera-
ture and culture in our country.

I congratulate the Society for honoring such a fine lady.

CO

For the benefit of those who have asked about appropriate means of
honoring Gertrude, let me explain that this summer we will publish the
entire proceedings of this banquet in the North Caroliniana Society Imprints
series, and by virtue of your name being on our dinner list tonight, you
will receive a copy by mail. A means of honoring Gertrude will be sent to
you with the Imprint.

Alice Cotten and Linda Lloyd of the North Carolina Collection’s
staff have mounted an exhibit on Gertrude Carraway in the hallway of
Wilson Library, and I hope many of you can go by to see it. The Library
is open until 11:00 tonight and of course all day tomorrow. The exhibit
will remain up several weeks. Incidentally, Alice, in gathering materials
for the exhibit, commented that ‘‘Everything done on New Bern since
1900 was written by Gertrude Carraway!”’

CR]

[4]

As is our tradition, we select our speakers from among those who
make their reservations early. In this way we don’t have to give out free
tickets, and we know that our participants are really eager to pay honor to
Gertrude.

To speak for Gertrude Carraway’s neighbors in the community in
which she has spent virtually her entire life—in the same house in which
she was born, I might add—we had a large pool from which to choose.
Our selection was made easy, however, because another of our North
Caroliniana Society members has grown up in Gertrude’s shadow and has
in some ways followed in her path to leadership.

Robert L. Stallings, Jr., born just across the Neuse River from Ger-
trude Carraway’s house, was graduated from North Carolina State Univer-
sity and then received a master’s degree in commerce from the University of
North Carolina here in Chapel Hill, where he later held appointment as
associate professor of business administration. He served as a naval officer in
World War II.

A successful businessman in New Bern, Robert Stallings has been ac-
tive in civic affairs and in government. He has held a variety of offices and
directorships, and in 1957 the citizens of New Bern elected him to the first
of two terms as their mayor. Five years later Governor Terry Sanford ap-
pointed him director of the State Department of Conservation and Devel-
opment, a position that he filled with distinction.

Of special significance for his appearance on this program is Robert
Stallings’s association with forces of historic preservation. A former presi-
dent of the New Bern Historical Society, he has been a member of the
Tryon Palace Commission for a quarter of a century and its chairman for
the past four years; and he is currently a member of the board of directors
of the Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina.

His avocation should be of interest to any member of the audience
who has never lived in New Bern but who may wish to correct that depri-
vation. Robert acquires and restores historic houses in which he and Mar-
garet make their home—until another derelict catches their eye. At that
point, another beautifully restored historic home is for sale in the charm-
ing city of New Bern.

A friend of Gertrude Carraway, Robert L. Stallings, Jr.

Ce!)

[5]

ROBERT L. STALLINGS, JR.:

Those of us in New Bern who know Miss Gertrude Carraway as a
fellow citizen are a little in awe of her. Before making a suggestion on any
of the topics about which she is an expert, we like to know that she
agrees.

Gertrude Sprague Carraway began life in New Bern and may be our
only native who resides in the same house and sleeps in the same bed in
which she was born. Her self-assurance may come from this comfortable
environment and may account for the strength that she has available for
engaging in so many activities beneficial to our hometown.

While a young person, she developed leadership qualities. In a copy
of the Athenian, a New Bern High School publication in January 1910,
Miss Gertrude of the Class of 1912 reports about a debate between the
girls’ and boys’ literary societies. The boys won but the girls were given
equal coverage. This may have been the beginning of ‘‘equal rights.”’

The work that Gertrude has done in New Bern has covered the spec-
trum of community activities—history, business, family, and religion. She
expresses it as having been actively interested in the growth and better-
ment of our town.

She has written extensively for our local newspaper with a desire to
spread knowledge of past and current achievements so that New Bernians
could be more successful and better citizens. During the great depression
of the 1930s, newspapers occasionally found the economic road rocky.
While engaged as a reporter, for a salary of $35.00 a week, she loaned the
publisher money with which to pay salaries. The paper repaid Gertrude
and has been successful ever since. Writings by Gertrude include two
books on the history of New Bern’s Episcopal Church, two books on Ma-
sonic lodges, eleven editions of the first New Bern guide book, and three
summer issues of a weekly publication, Coastal Topics.

Being an accomplished writer perhaps led Gertrude into speaking.
She has never declined an invitation to speak to groups on any subject
with which she was familiar. Further, she has never accepted a fee, nor ex-
pected one.

Early in 1939, Gertrude discovered sets of John Hawks’s plans for
the original Tryon Palace. Her efforts for its restoration were intensified.
She was a member of the Tryon Palace Commission and its secretary from
its creation in 1945 to 1956 and resigned membership then to accept a po-

[6]

sition as its first director. After retirement as director in 1971, she was re-
appointed to the commission by Governor Holshouser.

New Bernians have expressed their appreciation for gifts to them of
her talents and work. They have given more honors to Gertrude than to
any other citizen. She was New Bern’s Woman of the Year in 1958 and
Civitan Citizen of the Year in 1975-1976, and July 19, 1956, was pro-
claimed ‘‘Gertrude Carraway Day’’ by the mayor and board of aldermen.
She holds certificates of appreciation from the New Bern Woman’s Club,
Kiwanis Club, and Junior Chamber of Commerce; the Tryon Palace
Commission in 1981 named one of its gardens the ‘‘Gertrude Carraway
Garden,’’ and the Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina estab-
lished the ‘‘Gertrude Carraway Annual Awards’’ for achievements in his-
toric preservation. Among her many local offices, she is a member of the
New Bern Academy Historical Commission and an administrative trustee
of the Kellenberger Historical Foundation.

Interest in many aspects of life have made her a warm and friendly
person. In the roaring 1920s, she was a member of an investment club
which was motivated by a desire for profits. It was a successful one, and
profits were made—paper profits, that is. In the crash of 1929 her group
suffered the same fate as most others.

A true lover of baseball, she would not, for any ordinary reason, miss
seeing the World Series games. While dedicated to efficient work, she has,
nevertheless, been seen carrying a small television set to the office when
the series was being played.

Gertrude is a wonderful person who has been dedicated and resolute
in her effort to make New Bern’s history appreciated by all North Caro-
linians, and New Bern one of the best places in the world to live.

CL

DR. JONES:

Ten years ago Gertrude Carraway, on behalf of the North Carolina
Society for the Preservation of Antiquities, presented the Cannon Cup to
the then governor of North Carolina for ‘‘his support for and active par-
ticipation in historic preservation.’’ Governor Robert W. Scott’s response
was, ‘‘What I have done for history is no more than should be expected of

[7]

any governor.’’ I will simply say that if other governors of the twentieth
century had given equal emphasis to the appreciation, teaching, and pro-
motion of our state’s history, our public schools would not have abdicated
their responsibility to provide the factual information and objectivity so
necessary for the formulation of informed opinions by a new generation,
and our unique state character as expressed in the motto esse quam videri—
‘to be rather than to seem’’—would not be in danger of reversal.

Few people know better than Gertrude Carraway, Sam Ragan, and I
the immense personal role of Robert Scott in strengthening the state’s ar-
chival and historical program. As lieutenant governor and governor he
was virtually a member of the staff of the Department of Archives and His-
tory. The Carbine Williams Workshop in the Museum of History; the
Reed Gold Mine, Duke Homestead, and Thomas Wolfe Memorial State
Historic Sites; the new State Records Center; restoration of our historic
State Capitol; the strengthening of the statewide historic preservation pro-
gram—these were but a few of the projects in which he took the lead.

He may have been ‘‘cannonized’’ ten years ago with the Cannon
Cup, but I must send him by the woodshed on his way to the speaker’s
stand tonight, for only last week, in a televised conversation with three
other governors, he committed a faux pas that must not go without repri-
mand. True, he is to be commended for being the only one of the governors
to place cultural resources in the top five priorities for our state budget, but,
alas, he used the term ‘‘the arts’? when he meant the entirety of cultural
resources—a mistake that drives up the blood pressure of historians and
writers who can’t seem to get across the fact that history and literature are
components of the humanities, not the arts (though we’d like to think
that the very best-written history and literature might attain status as art).
So, governor, let nearly 300 people be my witness as I insist that in the
future, particularly when you speak of budgets, the correct term will be
‘‘history, literature, and the arts.”’

Fortunately, governor, your good works outweigh that slip of the
tongue, and we welcome you back to our platform—but watch it, fellow!

CRD

[8]

ROBERT W. SCOTT:

This is not the first time that Dr. Jones has taken me to the wood-
shed, and it probably won’t be the last, but as one who represents the
rougher elements, perhaps I should not be expected to understand such
fine distinctions. In the future, however, I will remember that history is a
branch of the humanities rather than of the arts.

I am pleased that you have asked me to join in paying tribute to our
honored guest. However, I was told that this affair is to be more dignified
than last year’s. I really had fun with Sam Ragan last year. I’m cautious
about ‘‘funning’’ with Miss Carraway. She knows more about me than I
will ever be able to dig up on her.

Gertrude Carraway has many talents and many admirable traits, not
the least of which is that of perspicacity, for she truly has been a sustain-
ing, moving force behind the restoration and promotion of Tryon Palace.

But before this, we should know how she became a member of the
North Carolina Historical Commission. She learned early on the art of
politics.

During the biennial session of the General Assembly of 1941, David
Livingstone Ward of New Bern, the speaker of the house during the pre-
vious session, and Carroll Pickens Rogers of Tryon were again colleagues
and friends. At that time there were four men and one woman on the five-
member North Carolina Historical Commission, which shortly thereafter
was renamed the Executive Board of the State Department of Archives
and History (under reorganization of state departments in 1973, the board
reverted to its original name).

Representative Rogers told Libby Ward that he wanted to have a
well-known historian, Mrs. Sadie Smathers Patton of Hendersonville, ap-
pointed to the State Historical Commission; and, since there was no va-
cancy, he wanted to recommend that its membership be raised from five to
seven. At first Ward was not too enthusiastic about the increase, but, as
he more than once reported later, he promised Rogers he would go along
with the legislation and recommend Mrs. Patton’s appointment to one of
the extra places on condition that Rogers would agree to support Miss
Gertrude Carraway of New Bern for the other new seat. Mr. Rogers
frowned and said, ‘‘I don’t know Miss Carraway.’’ Mr. Ward countered,
‘and I don’t know Mrs. Patton.”’

The logs began to roll in the General Assembly. The two legislators
pushed through the bill to increase the Historical Commission from five to

[?]

seven, and they persuaded Governor J. Melville Broughton (whose son
and namesake is here with us tonight) to appoint Mrs. Patton and Miss
Carraway to the two newly created positions. The appointment was made
on Groundhog Day in 1942.

During the past 40 years Miss Carraway has attended almost all the
commission meetings, even taking airplane flights to Raleigh from DAR
headquarters in Washington on some occasions. She said she did not want
to be reappointed to her current term, but friends insisted, and Governor
James B. Hunt, Jr., gave her what she claims is her ‘‘final and last’’ ap-
pointment.

I was asked to comment on Gertrude Carraway’s service to our state.
I don’t have the time and you don’t have the patience to listen to such a
long list, and I know for sure she is not going to sit still that long.

But I did come across some interesting facts you may not know.

She served for eight years as a member of the board of trustees of the
Consolidated University of North Carolina.

Twelve governors, including Governor Dan Moore, who is in the
audience, have appointed her to serve on state boards, commissions, or
committees.

She is a Kentucky Colonel, an Arkansas Traveler (twice over), an
Honorary Texan, an Honorary Citizen of New Orleans, and an Admiral
in the North Carolina Navy.

She has the keys to eight cities throughout the country, including
our nation’s capital.

She received twelve awards for work done on the home front during
World War II.

She broke a perfectly good bottle of champagne when she christened
a cargo ship during World War II.

She ran a carpool for kids including her nephew, and she took them
to the Saturday afternoon matinee at the movies because—she said—she
could get in free.

Gertrude Carraway has spent hours in discomfort listening to the in-
adequate efforts of others like me attempting to extol her virtues. She has
also spent hours at head tables chasing the fourteen green peas around her
plate while waiting to receive the numerous but well-deserved honors and
awards in recognition of her remarkable and valuable public service.

So, Miss Carraway, on behalf of all the governors and state officials
whose administrations have benefited from your counsel and service, and

[10]

indeed of all our people, I thank you for all you have done to make North
Carolina the truly fine state we have today.

CR

DR. JONES:

We are especially honored tonight by the presence of a lady who has
observed Gertrude Carraway’s performance at the national level, for she is
a successor to Gertrude as head of one of the largest and most powerful pa-
triotic societies of the United States.

Patricia W. Shelby started her patriotic service young, as a member
of the Children of the American Revolution. Growing up, she attended
Ward Belmont College and the Mississippi State University; married
Richard Denny Shelby, a Mississippi businessman and civic leader; and
started her climb to the top of the National Society, Daughters of the
American Revolution. By 1965 she had become state regent of Mississippi,
and three years later she was elected registrar general of the national orga-
nization. In 1980 Mrs. Shelby reached the top—president general of the
more than 200,000 members of the National Society, DAR in 3,000 chap-
ters in the United States, England, France, Mexico, and Venezuela. Along
the way she has held a long list of offices and directorships, including seven
years of the United States Bicentennial Commission. She currently is a
member of the boards of the United States Capitol Historical Society and
Outstanding Young Women of America, plus others.

One of Mrs. Shelby’s particular concerns during her administration
as president general has been the energy crisis; accordingly, a national energy
ethics committee was established. Her administration is also pledged to the
restoration and preservation of the historic buildings owned by the national
society.

Mrs. Shelby, we welcome you to North Carolina whose citizens join
you tonight in recognizing our own great lady, Gertrude Carraway. Mrs.

Shelby.

Ce!

[11]

MRS. RICHARD DENNY SHELBY:

Honor comes to one but few times in life, and this evening accords
me one of the greatest honors ever, and one of the most difficult assign-
ments.

I once heard that someone had written a book entitled, ‘‘An Un-
biased Opinion of the Civil War—from a Southern Point of View.”’
Well, I fear that my comments this evening, in regard to the honoree,
will be equally unbiased.

There are those who have known Gertrude Sprague Carraway long-
er. There are those who have known her more intimately—certainly her
devoted sister, Miss Rose Carraway. There are those who have worked
with her on a myriad of projects for many more years. However, there is
no one who has a deeper, more abiding respect, admiration, and love for
Gertrude, as I speak on behalf of over 208,000 members of the National
Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. But, I
don’t believe in imitation and Gertrude doesn’t believe in flattery. Thus, it
has been my constant endeavor, as president general of the NSDAR, to
emulate her by upholding the principles of administration and philosophy
of Gertrude Carraway, for she is the epitome of the DAR.

And, I want to tell you why. I couldn’t possibly tell you all the im-
pressive things about her that could be told. In fact, her DAR ‘‘Who’s
Who’’ is more than ten inches long! Yet, the manner in which she met
the challenges of her time and her day has enabled those of us now holding
office in the DAR to meet the challenges of the 1980s with greater zeal,
confidence, and unquestioning adherence to the objectives established by
our founders in 1890. Her planned program of work, as a candidate for
president general in 1953, was based upon three essentials: economy, effi-
ciency, expansion. Indeed, during her three-year term of office, following
election without opposition—which says much in itself—these three es-
sentials were basic to the many achievements her leadership and initiative
made possible.

In my opinion, she advocated ‘‘possibility thinking’’ while Dr.
Robert Shuller was still in diapers! .

Miss Carraway was the first president general to conduct a major ef-
fort to increase membership. She felt that only through continued growth
would the National Society remain a constructive force within our repub-
lic. During her administration, an Investment Trust Fund was established

[12]

which reached almost $76,000 in three years, and currently equals approx-
imately $1,000,000 by today’s depressed market values.

Constitution Hall was renovated, and the Administration Building,
another portion of the DAR complex of buildings at 1776 D Street in
Washington, was enlarged with monies for these projects coming chiefly
from record revenues she generated from the DAR Magazine. An interest-
ing note—during her term of office, no debts were incurred and all ex-
penses were met in full with balances remaining in the treasury.

Miss Carraway initiated Constitution Week as a national observance.
Her efforts began in 1955, with a U.S. Senate concurrent resolution au-
thorizing and requesting the president of the United States to proclaim
Constitution Week, and this effort continued in 1956 with a Senate joint
resolution to have the president proclaim September 17-23 every year as
Constitution Week. DAR leadership and participation in the 1955 obser-
vance was so outstanding that the National Society received one of the five
top special awards from Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Of all her
many accomplishments, I think Gertrude Carraway is most proud of her
success in this endeavor.

Her absolute allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and
adherence to its precepts, in today’s vernacular, is the ‘‘bottom line’’ of
that which all Americans most cherish—freedom!

I would certainly be remiss by omitting mention of one of Gertrude’s
most well-known characteristics, her delightful sense of humor. In fact, I
wish to quote her in this regard. She once wrote: ‘‘It is wise for us to
smile at ourselves from time to time, to keep us from getting too smug or
stodgy. A laugh is helpful, physically, mentally, socially. Only 13 muscles
are used in laughing, 64 in frowning.’’ She continued, ‘‘A poem prayer
by an unidentified author should often be remembered:

‘Oh, God, give me sympathy and sense
And help me keep my courage high,
Oh, God, give me calm and confidence,
And please, a twinkle in the eye.’ ”’

She tells the story that on one occasion at a luncheon meeting where
she was the main speaker, everyone had enjoyed lunch and was talking
and laughing. The chapter regent turned to her and said: ‘‘Gertrude, do
you think you had better begin your talk now, or shall we let them go on
having a good time a little bit longer?’’

[13]

As you know, numerous funny mistakes are made in newspapers.
Once, when a paper meant to refer to Gertrude as ‘‘Guest of Honor,’ it
printed ‘‘Gust of Honor.’’ After she had made a speech on conservation,
the writeup reported: ‘‘Miss Carraway said that the DAR believe in all
kinds of conversation.”’

When the average American, of which there are a few in this audi-
ence, thinks of the DAR, he probably pictures a plump lady of more or
less uncertain age wearing orchids and a broad blue and white ribbon.
And, these are only part of the trappings. There are almost countless pins
and badges which DAR proudly wear and jealously guard. DAR have
been wearing orchids during Continental Congresses for a long, long
time, but no one seems definitely to have established the origin of this tra-
dition. President General Carraway shed some light when she announced
in 1956 that the society had discovered a direct connection between the
traditional fondness for the exotic flower and the first president general,
Mrs. Caroline Scott Harrison, and her penchant for orchids. A rather long
theory ensues. However, Miss Carraway held a press conference and told
reporters that Mrs. Harrison was responsible for introducing orchids in
the White House greenhouse, that she wore them to official DAR meet-
ings, and ‘‘the Daughters have worn them ever since.”’

Miss Carraway then provided the reporters with a good quote, and I
wish to repeat it, with illustration. There is a story, Gertrude remarked,
that ‘‘if a lady wears one orchid, it means she has a genuine admirer.”’
[Mrs. Shelby presented one orchid].

“If a lady wears two orchids, she has a generous husband.”’ [Mrs.
Shelby presented a second orchid].

“If a lady wears three orchids, she has a boy friend.’’ [Mrs. Shelby
presented a third orchid].

“If she wears four or more, she’s a DAR!”’ [Mrs. Shelby presented a
fourth orchid].

Now, there’s another ending to this story, the ‘‘or more’’ part.
‘That she’s a ‘kept woman.’ ’’ Well, Gertrude, it’s your quote and your
reputation.

‘“What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us; what we
have done for others and for the world, remains and is immortal.’’ These
words of Albert Pike characterize Gertrude Carraway’s living philosophy,
a philosophy which determines whether life is to be merely an experience
or a great adventure.

[14]

I quote from the message of the president general in the DAR Magazine:
‘*As the New Year of 1954 approaches, I wish all of you much happiness.
May your efforts be crowned with success. May you have an understanding
heart, a sense of humor, and the spirit of faith. For our National Society,
may all our members labor zealously to make it as our Founders would have
liked it best, as we would prefer it to be, and as our followers would point
to it with most pride.”’

Lives of great men oft remind us
We can make our lives sublime.
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.

Madam Honorary President General, we who are privileged to be
your followers indeed point with pride to your over fifty years of service
to the nation. Your footprints are forever imbedded in the history of the
National Society, and your abiding influence shall ever endure in the hearts
and minds of over 208,000 grateful Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion.

We salute you!

CR!)

DR. JONES:

A year ago, Sam Ragan sat where Gertrude Carraway sits tonight—
the recipient of our fourth North Caroliniana Society Award. There are
only a few things that I can say about him tonight that were not said
about him then:

First, he has finally learned that ‘‘Tar Heel’’ must always be written
as two words.

Second, he has added to his many honors and recognitions the official
designation as North Carolina’s Poet Laureate, and I understand that there
may be a swearing-in ceremony that I shall certainly attend, for I want to
find out what a Poet Laureate swears to do; perhaps he will draft an oath
of office in verse.

Third, his latest book, Journey into Morning, has come from the press
and has been well received in the tradition of all of his literary productions.

[15]

Fourth, Sam has had an unusual relationship with Gertrude Carra-
way over the years, first as a reader of her own journalistic work, and then
as her editor at the News and Observer.

But he is our chief speaker tonight because many persons agreed with
Jonathan Daniels who, only a few months before his death, nominated
Sam ‘‘Mr. Culture of North Carolina.’’ Only for the benefit of our out-
of-state guests do I need to mention that Sam is a former editor of the Ra-
leigh News and Observer and currently editor of The Pilot in the Sandhills
resort community of Southern Pines; that he is a prolific author and a sort
of godfather for creative writers in North Carolina; and that under the ad-
ministration of Governor Scott he was appointed secretary of the first de-
partment of cultural resources in an American state.

Ladies and gentlemen, we await the exposure of the real Gertrude
Carraway by her friend and coworker, Sam Ragan.

CR!

GERTRUDE S. CARRAWAY
By Sam Ragan

Last year I had the honor and the privilege of standing here in the
limelight, and I am again honored to have the privilege of being here for
another reason. Last year while I was basking in the limelight, Dr. H. G.
Jones said I would also have to go through some basting. Tonight there
will be no roasting, but a whole lot of toasting. It could not be otherwise
for the lady who is one of the state’s best-known and best-loved citizens.

Dr. Gertrude Sprague Carraway has been described as a five-foot-
two blonde bundle of energy. It’s an apt description, and it has been said
that she can do anything except sit still.

She apparently has never had any nickname except ‘‘Miss Gertrude,”’
although there have been some slight variation in her by-line during her
distinguished career as a newspaper reporter, editor, and writer.

[16]

I was familiar with the Gertrude S$. Carraway by-line before I went
to the News and Observer as state editor in 1941. I had been on the job only
a few days before I was talking with that ‘‘bundle of energy’’ from New
Bern. She dictated her stories in clear, concise sentences, and there was
never a question about her facts. In the years which followed, news stories
poured in by mail, telegraph, and telephone, and often there were splendid
feature stories which were illuminating, entertaining, and a delight to
tread. She was everywhere and doing everything.

One night just before deadline she called in to report a fire in New
Bern. All the facts and details were there. She had talked to the fire chief,
the owner of the building, and eyewitnesses—and the fire had happened
only thirty minutes before.

CR)

I can recall many other pleasant associations and encounters with
Gertrude Carraway, but I would like to give you some details of her
amazing career.

She has held appointments under twelve North Carolina governors,
and this year she has completed 40 years as a gubernatorial appointee on
the North Carolina Historical Commission—the longest service of any
person.

It was under her guiding hand, brilliant mind, and directorship that
Tryon Palace was reconstructed and opened to the public.

She served as state regent and as president general of the National So-
ciety, Daughters of the American Revolution.

She was editor of the national DAR Magazine, and as an example of
her business acumen she took over that publication when it was $12,000
in the red; yet, three years later the magazine had increased circulation and
had $72,000 in surplus.

She has been an influential member and officer of dozens of state cul-
tural organizations, and the recipient of many honors and titles—includ-
ing Kentucky Colonel (and not for fried chicken), an Arkansas Traveler,
and a North Carolina Admiral.

Her distinguished career and many contributions to her city, her
state, and her nation make her a most worthy recipient for the North
Caroliniana Society Award.

[17]

CRS)

Gertrude Carraway lives in the house where she was born on August
6, 1896, the daughter of John Robert Bennett Carraway and Louise Elgie
Carraway, and, in fact, she sleeps in the same bed in which she was born.

Thad Stem, Jr., used to tell everyone that he lived on the same street
and in the same house in which he was born, as did Senator Sam Ervin, al-
though Senator Sam now lives two houses away and he points out, ‘That
indicates I haven’t gone far in life.”’

Gertrude has gone far, however. She has been in every one of North
Carolina’s 100 counties, all of the 50 states except Alaska, and she has
been around the world twice. Her influence and the impact of her life
cover the same geography.

One person whom Gertrude says had a marked influence on her life
was her grandmother, Julia Brooke (Mrs. Thomas John) Elgie, who was
born in England in 1832 and lived to be 93. When Gertrude was five years
old her grandmother came to live with them in New Bern. Gertrude says
the woman had a fabulous memory and she sang old songs which taught
good character—songs such as ‘‘The Little Idle Boy,’’ ‘‘Heedless Emily,”’
and ‘‘Meddlesome Matilda.’’ And there was one which ended with these
words:

I don’t like to see ugly women use paint,

Nor a gray-headed sinner pretend to be a saint.

If you don’t like to see it, it’s nothing to me;

I tell you the things I don’t like to see.

I don’t like to see little boys smoking cigars;

They’d better be home with their Papas and Mamas.”’

While Gertrude was in high school she was asked to write an article
for the school’s magazine on New Bern’s historic sites. She demurred,
saying she didn’t know of any historic sites in New Bern. That was when
her teacher saw to it that she learned some local history, and Gertrude
wrote the article, and she has been at it ever since.

Gertrude graduated from high school at the age of 15 and was the
valedictorian, and she entered the Normal School (the Woman’s College,
and now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). She took ad-
vance examinations and entered the sophomore class, graduating three

[18]

years later at the age of 18. In 1961 her alma mater awarded her the degree
of doctor of humane letters.

After her graduation there came the first and only time Gertrude ap-
plied for a job. All the other dozens of jobs she held were offered to her
without application. For two years she taught history, French, and En-
glish at Jacksonville in Onslow County, and also coached basketball,
dramatics, and debating.

There followed a year of teaching at Reidsville and then two years at
Smithfield, where her career in journalism began. One of her English classes
edited an issue of the Smithfield Herald, and the issue so impressed some of the
Smithfield businessmen that they insisted she become editor of a new semi-
weekly, the Smithfield Observer. Before beginning work she took off for
another summer course at Columbia University, and then for two years
was editor of the Observer and also reporter-correspondent for the Raleigh
Times.

But then, as later, she couldn’t stay away from New Bern for long,
and she returned to her hometown and for 13 years was local news report-
er and city editor, first of the New Bernian, which folded during the
depression, and the Sun-Journal. At one time she and the owner-editor of
the paper made up the entire news staff.

CER

It was during these years that a lot of stories about Gertrude came into
being. Carl Goerch, who has been known to embellish a story to make it
more entertaining, tells some of them in a chapter he wrote in a book called
Characters. . . Always Characters back in 1945. (Isn’t it interesting that Ger-
trude Carraway was known as a ‘‘Character’’ even then?)

There was the time when a notorious bootlegger came into the office
of the New Bernian and threatened to beat up the man who had written a
story about him in that morning’s paper. He had tried to beat up an editor
on an earlier date. ‘‘ Who wrote that piece?’’ he demanded, and Gertrude
told him she had. She was confident that he would not assault a young
woman, and, besides, she had known him practically all her life.

In the conversation which followed she discovered that he had no
objection to that part of the story charging him with violations of the li-

[19]

quor laws. That was true, but what he was furious about was a reference
to his place of business as a ‘‘fish house.”’

‘*You should have known better than that,’’ he told Gertrude.
‘You know my place is an oyster house. I ain’t never sold any fish there
in my whole life.”’

There was another case in which a woman was threatening to sue
the News and Observer for a story Gertrude had written about the woman’s
trial on charges of kidnapping. During the course of the trial there was
testimony that the woman was an immoral character. Being the good re-
porter that she is, Gertrude included that testimony in her news report.
The woman was infuriated. She didn’t mind being called a kidnapper, but
she didn’t like that immoral report.

Gertrude went to call on her and told her, ‘‘If you want to take this
thing into court, it will make one of the most sensational stories that has
broken in New Bern for a long time. Now then, how about a nice picture
of yourself that I can run when the lawsuit starts?’’ After a moment of
stunned silence, the woman backed off, and when Gertrude said she
would print a retraction the woman begged her not to write any more.

In telling that story, Carl Goerch said, ‘‘That’s one of her outstand-
ing characteristics—she’s so tremendously plausible.’’

Like all of us, Gertrude has had troubles with typographical errors.
There was the time she wrote a little social item which said ‘‘Mrs. So-and-
So spent the weekend recently in Fayetteville.’’ The way it came out in
the paper, however, was, ‘‘Mrs. So-and-So spent the weekend decently in
Fayetteville.”’

Gertrude might have been writing all those years for the New York
Times, if the lure of New Bern had not been so great. During her second
time at Columbia University she worked a few weeks for the Times, and
the editors were so impressed with her they offered her a regular job. But
she turned it down because she preferred New Bern. She did, however,
become a regular correspondent for the New York Times, as well as for
other national publications. During those years of the twenties, thirties,
and forties she was writing a tremendous number of historical and other
features and selling every one of them.

CR)

[20]

One of her specialties with the New Bern papers was getting out
special editions. Those editions have been lifesavers for many small daily and
weekly newspapers. In November 1925 she got out a special edition of the
New Bemian for the visit of the North Carolina officers of the National So-
ciety, Daughters of the American Revolution. She had signed many of her
historical features as ‘‘G.S. Carraway,’’ and when the state regent of the
DAR, Mrs. Edwin C. Gregory of Salisbury, came to New Bern, her father
told her to look up ‘‘G.S. Carraway,’’ who had written some fine pieces
on history. Gertrude says, ‘‘Mrs. Gregory thought I was a man, probably
with a long white beard.’’ But as soon as Mrs. Gregory had met her she
appointed Gertrude state DAR publicity chairman, and that’s when her
long and distinguished career with the DAR began. She wasn’t even a
member of the DAR until later, but she went to work and soon was on
the national publicity committee, on other committees, a national vice-
chairman for nine years, editor of the DAR Magazine for three years from
1950-53, and finally president general in 1953-56.

Back home she had moved up in the DAR ranks, serving as state
vice regent and then state regent from 1946-49.

She still serves as a national consultant and holds the title of honorary
president general for life. She also is honorary state DAR regent of North
Carolina.

Now here’s the amazing thing about all these offices, as well as
others in dozens of organizations: she never had any opposition for any of
them. The way she explains it, ‘‘I’ve had a lot of friends,’’ and, indeed,
she has.

CR)

During her years as reporter and city editor of the New Bern paper
she said she only had one week’s vacation with pay, and because her extra
writing was taking so much time she finally resigned from her regular job
in March 1937. She kept on writing for special editions and for a time
helped finance the Sun-Journal when the paper’s money was scarce.

Besides her state and national reporting and feature writing, between
1934 and 1957 she edited and published eleven editions of the guide book,
Historic New Bem. During the summers she compiled and published weekly

[21]

issues of Coastal Topics, and for many years she edited regularly an eight-
page tabloid, the A. & E.C. News, for the Atlantic and East Coast Rail-
road. In between she handled publicity for Atlantic Beach, was press agent
for Paul Green’s ‘‘The Highland Call’’ at Fayetteville in 1940, and for
Sam Byrd’s ‘‘The Duplin Story’’ in 1950.

During the late 1930s Gertrude was the North Carolina state editor
of the Democratic Digest. She was vice-chairman of Craven County
Democrats for four years and was for a time state publicity chairman for
the North Carolina Democratic Women.

She kept her typewriter humming. Besides juvenile fiction and ar-
ticles, Gertrude has written hundreds of feature articles on a great variety
of subjects, 70 historical booklets, and six books, including Crown of Life,
a History of Christ Church (of which she is a lifelong member in New Bern);
Historic Christ Church; Carolina Crusaders, a History of the North Carolina
Federation of Women’s Clubs; Years of Light, a History of St. John’s Lodge, A.F.
& A.M,; and the North Carolina DAR Register, Members and Revolutionary
Ancestors.

One of her special editions was done at the request of Josephus Dan-
iels, after his return from serving as ambassador to Mexico in 1942. It was
a commemoration of the anniversary of the United States Marines, and
that involvement led to her service on a regular basis as publicity director
for the Craven County Red Cross and other patriotic organizations dur-
ing World War II, for which she received citations.

CR)

It was right after she had completed her term as president general of
the DAR that the Tryon Palace Commission approached Gertrude about
becoming the first director of the Tryon Palace Restoration at New Bern.
She had been secretary of the Commission since its creation in 1945, and
in her new job she saw the opening of the magnificent project. She re-
signed in 1971, but stayed on to train her successor for almost a year.

At the time of her resignation she told the Executive Board of the
Department of Archives and History, ‘‘There’s nothing wrong. I’m just
tired of working so hard and long seven days a week. I want to go places
and do things.’’ As a matter of fact, she said, she had been trying to resign

[22]

for several years. ‘‘In 1968 I formally resigned in writing, but nothing
was done about it.’’ The board reluctantly accepted her resignation in
1971, and passed a resolution praising her for her ‘‘able and energetic lead-
ership.”’

When Gertrude assumed the Tryon Palace position the News and Ob-
server commented editorially: ‘‘One thing is certain. The Tryon Palace
will be one of New Bern’s biggest assets. Miss Carraway has been for
some time one of New Bern’s biggest assets.”

Of all of her appointments—and there have been many of them—
Gertrude considers her record-setting service on the Historical Commis-
sion ‘‘the most important and interesting, not only personally but also
essential and valuable for the state.’’

History has been an important part of her life since that school girl
assignment in which she discovered that New Bern did indeed have some
historic sites. In an interview a few years ago she summed up her personal
three-pronged philosophy as ‘‘history, education, and patriotism.”’

She pointed out that ‘‘the past is a guide to the future,’’ and
‘through education we can inform and enlighten, and patriotism will
help make a good citizen, which will help make a good country.”’

’

Ce!

A list of the memberships and offices she has held, the honors she has
received, runs into several pages. But high on the list are service for eight
years on the board of trustees of the Consolidated University of North
Carolina (1945-1953); president of the North Carolina Literary and His-
torical Association; six years on the board of trustees of the Alumnae Asso-
ciation of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and member of
the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Historic Preservation Society of
North Carolina, National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Society
of Colonial Dames, Friends of Hope, Roanoke Island Historical Associa-
tion, Edenton Historical Commission, Friends of Old Salem, New Bern
Historical Association, Friends of Weymouth, and North Carolina Art
Society. The list goes on and on.

[23]

Among Gertrude’s awards was one of the first Cannon Cups from
the North Carolina Society for the Preservation of Antiquities and the sec-
ond Christopher Crittenden Memorial Award from the State Literary and
Historical Association.

CR!)

When she came home from serving for three years as the president
general of the DAR in Washington, the mayor of New Bern proclaimed
‘*Gertrude Carraway Day.’’ But of all the honors she has received she par-
ticularly cherishes a note enclosed with a gift from a local business firm. It
read: ‘To the woman who has made New Bern a better place to live.”’

To Gertrude Sprague Carraway—we can say the same thing for all of
North Carolina.

CR

[24]

DR. JONES:

Before getting to the real purpose of our gathering tonight, may I
read the following message from Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.:

Congratulations on your selection of Gertrude Carraway as the
recipient of the North Caroliniana Society Award.

Gertrude Carraway is a splendid example of that rare citizen who
takes a deep and abiding love for her native state and turns it into a life-
time of service and accomplishment. Her ‘‘causes’’ range from the re-
construction of Tryon Palace to the improvement of the University of
North Carolina.

Her record includes service on the North Carolina Historical
Commission under every governor since 1942—including myself—
and many other appointments as well. The results of her devotion
have improved immeasurably the state which all who call ourselves
‘North Carolinians’’ are proud to claim as our own.

We can all be proud of Gertrude Carraway, and grateful that the
Society has chosen such an excellent North Carolinian for this award.

CH!

In the crush of the crowd at the reception, some of you may have
missed signing the guest book. It rests on a stand near the door to my
right; will you be sure to sign it as you leave so that Gertrude will have a
lasting reminder of your evening with her.

The empty chair on the platform is in honor of our distinguished
president, Archie K. Davis, whose planned participation tonight was vetoed
by his doctor who has ordered him to take a rest for a few weeks. Archie
will spring back with full vigor soon, and he deserves this recuperation after
having completed his 1,250-page, three-volume dissertation on the Boy Col-
onel of the Confederacy. He sends to you, Gertrude, his congratulations and
appreciation for your career of service to North Carolina. The Society this
afternoon unanimously reelected Archie president.

It was at his own request last year that William S. Powell was re-
lieved of the presidency of the Society, but he consented to remain as vice-
president, and in that capacity he again makes the presentation of the
North Caroliniana Society Award—a simply worded silver certificate,

[29]

symbolic of the modesty and sincerity of North Carolina. It is appropriate
that the most prolific writer of North Carolina history carry out this pleas-
ant task, for he knows first-hand the immense contributions of Gertrude
Carraway in the same field. Professor William S. Powell.

Ce!)

WILLIAM S. POWELL:

Before reading and presenting the certificate, I can’t resist making
two comments. Sam said that Miss Carraway has had no nicknames. But
at the reception someone came in and asked, ‘‘Where’s Gertie?’’ I
couldn’t imagine Miss Carraway being called Gertie. The guest must have
had too much sherry. And then after listening to Mrs. Shelby recite the
wonderful accomplishments of Gertrude Carraway as president general of
the DAR, I have a question: Why don’t yeu announce for governor next
time? We need you!

The certificate reads:

The North Caroliniana Society,
in recognition of her public service and
of her promotion, enhancement, production, and
preservation of the literature of her native state,
presents its
North Caroliniana Society Award
to
Gertrude Sprague Carraway
May 7, 1982.

It gives me real pleasure to present this award to you, Gertrude, on
behalf of all the members of the North Caroliniana Society.

CR!)

[26]

GERTRUDE S. CARRAWAY:

Never can I thank adequately all who have made this such a wonder-
ful event. Please know that I am deeply grateful, not only to the North
Caroliniana Society and to those who have spoken so eloquently and gen-
erously but also to everybody here tonight. You presence contributes to
my gratitude and happiness. Always I shall cherish this occasion as my
life’s highlight.

I wish there were time to repay in full measure the compliments of
the orators who have been so gracious in their tributes. Each is a successful
leader in his or her channel of service, and each has my admiration and
affection.

The North Caroliniana Society is a unique and worthy organization.
Its primary purpose is notable: ‘‘to promote increased knowledge and ap-
preciation of North Carolina’s heritage.’’ Its literary, educational, and
charitable objectives assist in the preservation of the valuable historical doc-
uments in the famed North Carolina Collection of the University of
North Carolina here at Chapel Hill. As we point proudly to its achieve-
ments, we must be mindful of its needs for even greater progress.

The University of North Carolina is one of the best institutions of
higher education in the country. We are proud of its records in sports, es-
pecially its Number One rank in basketball. It merits top rank in numer-
ous other fields.

Through the years I have profited from study and research in its
varied, outstanding departments.

To UNC-Greensboro also I am indebted. There I learned how to
think and study—and how to enjoy studying. Dr. Walter Clinton Jackson,
then a history professor, taught us to love history and to realize that
everything has two sides and that both sides of problems should be carefully
considered before reaching fair decisions. Dr. Julius Foust, then president,
emphasized that public service is a personal responsibility, with compensat-
ing rewards. Thus, he caused most of the students to go to bed later with
aching backs but with easy consciences from action to his calls for devotion
to duty.

The senior class was told that we should have life goals and strive
continually to attain them. Questioned as to our aims, most of the others
responded with definite plans. When it was my turn, I replied hesitantly
that I had been trained from childhood on the honor system to concentrate
on the present—to do my best for every lesson or assignment. There was

[27]

no way then that I could have foreseen the opportunities which came
along afterwards: journalism, Archives and History, DAR, and Tryon Pal-
ace Restoration.

These marvelous vocations and avocations were due perhaps to a little
luck but chiefly to wise parents, a sage grandmother, helpful brothers and
sisters, and good friends.

During my fifth year as a high school English teacher came the sur-
prise proposals from friends for me to edit a semiweekly newspaper. Those
two years opened vast literary areas, including the experience of writing
under the expert journalistic editing of Sam Ragan.

By compiling a historical section of a daily newspaper by which I was
employed in my hometown, I was drafted by the state DAR regent, a
friend, into the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revo-
lution, for which I have never had any regret. It is a real joy now to be
under the superb leadership of Mrs. Shelby, president general.

Through other historical features and DAR efforts I drifted into his-
toric preservation and restoration, and it has long been my pleasure to help
along these important lines my efficient friend, Robert Stallings, who
works hard on diversified, gratuitous, civic improvements.

History is a significant product. It can be told and sold over and over,
tending toward better citizenship and better government, and leading to
an optimistic view that, as in the past, there are silver linings to present
clouds.

Through the recommendation of a New Bern statesman and friend, I
unexpectedly became a member of the Executive Board of the State De-
partment of Archives and History, now the North Carolina Historical
Commission. Other governors have kindly reappointed me through four
decades of its excellent services, especially the years under Mr. Ragan and
Dr. Jones, and continuing under its current officials.

Without my ever having dreamed of such a fabulous position,
friends offered me the first directorship of the Tryon Palace Restoration. I
would not take anything for that era.

One of the most popular programs for our Tryon Palace Commis-
sion was an address by Governor Scott praising Royal Governor William
Tryon. This was exceptionally meaningful because Governor Scott lived in
Alamance County, where Tryon had encountered pre-Revolutionary
opposition.

Serious about history and historic preservation, winning a Cannon
Cup, Governor Scott, nevertheless, had a keen sense of humor. With his

[28]

permission, I adapted for the DAR Magazine his humorous satire about
the ‘‘woes’’ an officeholder is up against in ‘‘savage crossfire’ from crit-
ics. I received more requests for copies of that article than anything else I
ever wrote.

While he was governor I happened to be sitting just behind him
when the film on the Battle of Alamance was being shown at the Ala-
mance Battleground State Historic Site. The legislature was in an extra-
long session. The screen pictured Royal Governor Josiah Martin dissolving
the General Assembly and ordering its delegates to go home. Governor
Scott glanced backward at me and commented: ‘‘I wish the governor
now had that authority.’’

I am sincerely grateful for the aid of these and other friends. It has
been my constant resolve to try to prove worthy of their confidence. Ac-
cordingly, in keeping with my youthful training and continuing desire to
do my best in any capacity, I have labored overtime: performing duties
promptly, answering requests and letters quickly, and expressing thanks
and credit for any assistance.

Best of all, I have liked all my jobs and my coworkers.

Since retirement I have kept busier than ever, doing, free, things I
want to do. In prior periods innumerable people helped me with ideas and
information. Now I find great satisfaction whenever I can return some-
what-similar favors for others.

This priceless award from the North Caroliniana Society is an honor
I really owe to friends for work I have enjoyed and loved. We regret the
unavoidable absence of the Society’s president, the eminent scholar, histo-
rian, author, financier, and national executive, the Honorable Archie K.
Davis.

It is an honor to have my friend, Dr. Jones—recognized nationally as
a historian and elected often as an officer in the national historical
groups—as tonight’s master of ceremonies. And it is a double honor to
have had another friend, William S. Powell, distinguished history profes-
sor and writer, the Society’s vice-president and former president, present
this framed award, signed by Dr. Davis, president; and Dr. Jones, secre-
tary-treasurer. I accept it with deep humility but pardonable pride. Thank
you very, very much.

eR)

[29]

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NORTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY, INC.
North Carolina Collection
UNC Library 024-A
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

Chartered on September 11, 1975, as a private nonprofit corporation under provi-
sions of Chapter 55A of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the North Caroliniana
Society has as its main purpose the promotion of increased knowledge and apprecia-
tion of North Carolina heritage through studies, publications, meetings, seminars,
and other programs, especially through assistance to the North Carolina Collection
of The University of North Carolina Library in the acquisition, preservation, care,
use, and display of, and the promotion of interest in, historical and literary materials
relating to North Carolina and North Carolinians. The Society, a tax-exempt organi-
zation under provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, depends
upon the contributions, bequests, and devises of its members and friends.

Unofficially limited to one hundred North Carolinians who have contributed sig-
nificantly to the state, the Society elects additional individuals meeting its criterion of
‘‘adjudged performance,’’ thus bringing together men and women who have
shown their respect for and commitment to our state’s unique historical, literary,
and cultural inheritance.

A highlight of the Society’s year is the presentation of the North Caroliniana Society
Award to an individual adjudged to have given unusually distinguished service
over a period of years to the encouragement, promotion, enhancement, produc-
tion, and preservation of North Caroliniana.

The North Carolina Collection, the headquarters for the North Caroliniana Soci-
ety, has been called the ‘‘Conscience of North Carolina,’’ for it seeks to preserve
for present and future generations all that has been or is published about the state and
its localities and people or by North Carolinians, regardless of subject. In this mis-
sion the Collection’s clientele is broader than the University community; indeed, it
is the entire citizenry of North Carolina as well as those outside the state whose re-
search extends to North Carolina or North Carolinians. Its acquisitions are made
possible by gifts and private endowment funds; thus, it also represents the respect
that North Carolinians have for their heritage. Members of the North Caroliniana
Society have a very special relationship to this unique institution which traces its
beginnings back to 1844 and which is unchallenged as the outstanding collection
of printed North Caroliniana in existence. A leaflet, ‘‘North Carolina’s Literary
Heritage,”’ is available without charge from the Collection.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Archie K. Davis, President
William S. Powell, Vice-President
H.G. Jones, Secretary-Treasurer
Gertrude S. Carraway
Louis M. Connor, Jr.

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